How To Enjoy Summer Without Gaining Weight

Do You Know What Insulin Resistance and Summer Have in Common?

Plenty, it turns out, and it has everything to do with what you’re eating this summer.  Even though summer brings with it an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables, making it easier to eat healthy, it also brings added risks.

What could taste better during the lazy, hazy days of summer than fruity cocktails and rich ice cream?

Unfortunately, these are the foods that can spell danger for your blood sugar level.  The few minutes of pleasure that you derive from those cold, sugary treats can pave the way for decades of chronic illness, as well as weight gain.

I'm going to get a bit science-y here for a minute and talk about Blood Sugar Basics.

When you eat sugary treats, your blood sugar levels rise.  Your blood sugar level is a measure of how much sugar or glucose is circulating in your bloodstream. Too much glucose in your blood is dangerous, so your body works hard to lower the levels.  It does this by releasing insulin, a hormone which enables your cells to absorb the excess glucose.  

The danger comes when you continue eating too much sugar, because your body responds by producing more and more insulin.  Too much insulin trains your cells to become resistant to insulin, and this is called insulin resistance.  

The net effect is that it then takes more and more insulin to make your cells remove the glucose from your blood.  When this happens, your blood sugar levels stay elevated, your insulin levels stay elevated and you develop pre-diabetes.

​Along with the risk of diabetes comes weight gain, cravings for more sugar and carbs, as well as mood imbalances.

Still want that ice cream?  I know, me, too.  ;-)

Moderation is the Key.

Don’t panic.  This doesn’t mean that you can never indulge in a sugary treat again.  What it means is that you need to be smart about the amount you eat and how you eat it.

Have you ever heard of the glycemic index?  It is simply a way of categorizing foods according to their effects on the level of glucose in your blood.  A food with a high glycemic index will cause more glucose to build up than will a food with a low glycemic index.
 
In order to control your blood sugar levels, it is helpful to eat lots of foods with a low glycemic index.

​And if you eat foods with a high glycemic index, be sure to pair them with low glycemic foods in order to slow the effect on your blood sugar.

High glycemic foods include white flour, white sugar, white rice, and even big, white potatoes.  Low glycemic foods are foods that have lots of fiber and protein.  These would include beans, whole grains, lean proteins and nuts.

Simply being aware of the glycemic index will help you eat in a way that reduces the stress on your body.  If you are going to have an ice cream treat, make sure you eat it at the end of a meal that contains low glycemic foods.
 
So this summer, have an occasional treat, but be sure it is occasional...seriously. ;-)  Your body will thank you!

​A great trick that I've been using this summer is brewing a pot of citrus-flavoured herbal tea and then chilling it in the fridge in place of regular iced tea! If you prefer some sweetness, just add some honey while it's still hot.

​Want tips for eating healthy while on the go? Download "THE BUSY WOMAN'S GUIDE TO HEALTHY EATING ON THE GO." It's FREE!

​Grab your FREE GUIDE HERE.

​Until next time,

​May Anne xo
​